Brave Young Girl Shot By Taliban Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who was shot by the Taliban after using a blog to criticize their extremist efforts to prevent girls from getting an education, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. My faith in humanity is restored.

Malala was on a bus going home from school last October, when members of the Taliban boarded the bus, called her out by name, and fired three shots at her. She amazingly survived the attack. Instead of shrinking in fear and horror over the attack, she became even more vocal about her plight – the plight of all young Pakistani women who crave an education. Apparently, 14-year-old girls are a real threat to the Taliban. She has now become a symbol of opposition to a group that would deny women even the most basic of rights. That’s pretty prize-worthy, if you ask me.

The Norwegian MPs said they believed that Malala was “a worthy winner for many reasons. She has become an important symbol in the fight against destructive forces that want to prevent democracy, equality and human rights.”

She was also reportedly nominated by members of parliament in France, Spain and Canada.

What a victory this would be for women everywhere. In the history of the Nobel Peace Prize, there have only been 15 female winners.

The Stockholm-based Nobel Foundation, which has been awarding Nobel awards for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace since 1901, said 231 names were submitted for the Peace Prize last year, including 41 organizations.

Nominations can be made only by a select group of people worldwide, including national lawmakers, university presidents and previous Nobel winners.

The list of prior Nobel Peace Prize recipients is populated with presidents and large organizations — including UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, and the European Union in 2012 — and storied individuals, such as the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela.

This young woman was a symbol of hope and perseverence even before she was attacked. Her ability to stand steadfast and courageous in her beliefs after experiencing something so terrifying proves that she has a tremendous resolve. She definitely deserves such a distinguished honor.